Shanks Family Descendancy Chart

Generation #1

  1. [Unknown] Shanks

    Probably from Ireland.

    Children of [Unknown] Shanks:

    1. James Shanks
      Died after 1820, presumably in Ireland.
    2. John Shanks
      Fought in War of 1812. Died 1818 in Petersburg, VA.
    3. William Shanks
      Merchant. Died 4 Oct 1816 in Petersburg, VA.

Generation #2

  1. James Shanks

    Died after 1820. Lived in Ireland.

    Notes:

    Mentioned in a legislative petition by Robert and William Shanks dated 5 Dec 1820. At that time his health didn't let him leave Ireland.

    Children of James Shanks:

    1. Robert Shanks
      Born 1785. Immigrated to Petersburg, VA. Died 1871.
    2. William Shanks
      Mechanic/cabinet-maker. Probably born ~1787.

  2. John Shanks

    Died 1818 in Petersburg, VA.

    Notes:

    Mentioned in a legislative petition by Robert and William Shanks dated 5 Dec 1820. Fought in War of 1812. Lived with his brother William near Hampton, VA. Declared intent to become a citizen on 21 Aug 1817.

  3. William Shanks

    Died 4 Oct 1816 in Petersburg, VA.

    Notes:

    Merchant, in business with Samuel H. Binford. Citizen. Died intestate, never married. Owned land in Nansemond County and a house and lot in Blandford (Petersburg, VA).

Generation #3

  1. Robert Shanks James

    Born 1783 in Ireland. Died 20 Jul 1871 of old age. Married to Elizabeth, born 1795, died 11 Apr 1871.

    Notes:

    Mechanic, carpenter, boot and shoe merchant. Had lots of land dealings. Arrived in Petersburg, VA on 21 Aug 1817. Lived on Old Street in Blandford. He was Petersburg's oldest citizen when he died.

    Children of Robert and Elizabeth Shanks:

    1. Robert Shanks, Jr.
      Died 1849.
    2. ? Shanks
      Born ~1815?
    3. Eliza Shanks
      Born ~1817? Married Edwin D. Willcox.
    4. Matilda Shanks
      Born 1829. Married William H. Baxter.
    5. James Shanks
      Born 1831. Married Judith E. Peterson.
    6. Thomas Shanks
      Born 17 Nov 1835. Married Virginia H.

  2. William Shanks James

    Born ~1780s? in Ireland.

    Notes:

    Mechanic and cabinet-maker. Arrived in Petersburg, VA on 21 Aug 1817.

Generation #4

  1. Robert Shanks, Jr. Robert, James

    Died 5 Jan 1849.

    Notes:

    Had some land dealings.

  2. ? Shanks Robert, James

    Born before 1817.

    Notes:

    Robert and Elizabeth Shanks had three children in 1817.

  3. Eliza Shanks Robert, James

    Born ~1817. Married Edwin D. Willcox, who died 12 Jul 1871.

    Notes:

    Eliza married Edwin D. Willcox, a grocer, on 19 Dec 1836. She was 19.

    Children of Eliza Shanks and Edwin D. Willcox:

    1. John Wilcox
      Born 1846.
    2. Alice A. Wilcox
      Born ~1849.
    3. [Infant] Wilcox
      Born ~October 1856. Died 14 Jan 1856 of cholera.

  4. Matilda Shanks Robert, James

    Born 1829. Died 31 Jul 1886. Married William H. Baxter, born ~1830, in July 1853.

    Notes:

    Matilda married William H. Baxter, a machinist, businessman, and superindent of a gas works who had been born in Cuba in 1830 and died 5 Jul 1915 in Petersburg, VA. Matilda died in 1886 at the age of 57.

    Children of Matilda Shanks and William H. Baxter:

    1. Thomas H. Baxter
      Born 1855.
    2. Maria Baxter
      Born 1858.
    3. Ida E. Baxter
      Born 1860.

  5. James Shanks Robert, James

    Born 1831. Died 27 Feb 1884. Married Ann E. Brown, b. 1826 / d. 7 Apr 1866 of apoplexy, on 6 Apr 1852. Married Elizabeth J. Peterson, b. 1840, on 15 Apr 1868.

    Notes:

    Engineer, worked on railroad. Also machinist. Elizabeth also went by Judith, and her parents were William M. and Martha A. Peterson.

    Children of James Shanks and Ann E. Brown:

    1. William Andrew Shanks
      Born 10 Jul 1853. Died 8 Aug 1853.
    2. [Daughter] Shanks
      Born and died 10 Apr 1854 stillborn.
    3. James Shanks
      Born 13 Aug 1856. Died 1 Apr 1857 of hydrocephalus.
    4. Herbert Shanks
      Born 1858. Married Mattie L. Carter (b. 1862) on 25 Dec 1884.
    5. Carrie Shanks
      Born 1860. Married Jacob H. Donner (b. 1856) on 17 Dec 1884.
    6. Clifford Shanks
      Born 17 Jun 1862. Married Annie Better Jones 1 Oct 1885. Died 25 Dec 1906.

  6. Thomas Shanks Robert, James

    Born 17 Nov 1835. Died 4 Jan 1878 of a concussion of the brain. Married Virginia H., born 8 Mar 1836, died 3 Mar 1887.

    Notes:

    Carpenter, fire captain. Thomas lived on Grove Ave. in Petersburg, VA. He served in the Civil War as a second lieutenant. Served as a private in the Virginia State Reserves in 1864. Captain in the Old Street Fire Company in Petersburg.

    Children of Thomas and Virginia H. Shanks:

    1. Thomas R. Shanks
      Born 4 Jan 1867. Died 15 Apr 1868 of water on the brain.
    2. Frederick S. Shanks
      Died 18 Jun 1870 of infantine cholera.